WOAY-TV (Oak Hill, WV): Our region had a busy weekend with severe thunderstorms and dangerous flooding. Unfortunately, we will not get much of a break today. The morning will be quiet with partly sunny skies. A couple of stray showers drifting through of the region, but these will remain weak. Thunderstorms return later in the day, mainly this afternoon and evening. Another cluster will cruise through the region, resulting in more issues during that time frame.
Additional flooding across the region remains the main concern. Rainfall will be heavy in batches once again. 2-4″ of rain fell in some areas yesterday, and any more will cause issues. Projected amounts today hover between 0.5-1″ with higher amounts possible. Creeks and streams are already overflowing, roads remain covered by high water, and power outages remain unresolved. Fayette County schools have closed for the day due to flooding and power outages. Do not drive into flooded roads and remain vigilant through the day.
Today’s storms will likely remain weaker than the weekend storms. Lower intensity is due to lower amounts of available energy and wind shear present in the atmosphere. The cloudier morning is helping us out in this regard, keeping the sunshine to a minimum. Despite these values remaining lower through the day, there is potential for a couple of stronger storms. The strongest storms will consist of heavy rain, plenty of lightning, and damaging winds up to 60 miles per hour. Meteorologist Christian Boteler has the latest:
A few lingering showers are possible Tuesday morning, but most activity should conclude before noon. At this point, any remaining rainfall will be light and brief. An umbrella will be useful for the morning commute, but the strong storms and heavy rain will finally die down. By Tuesday evening, a short dry period begins. Conditions from Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday will remain moderate and calm. Temperatures peak in the upper 70s and lower 80s and rain chances are eliminated. If you have any outdoor activities to take care of, Wednesday is your best bet. Areas affected by dangerous flooding will finally get a chance to recover until the next frontal system comes next week.
Thursday marks the next cold front passing through our region. Rain may start overnight Wednesday into Thursday morning, but the best chance for thunderstorms will occur during the afternoon and evening as the front passes. Storms will likely remain less intense than previous rounds, but heavy rain could cause issues once again. Remember to stay aware and be cautious of vulnerable areas. After the front punches through, showers and storms will linger through Saturday at least. The reason for this lingering activity is an upper-level trough that sticks around. This pattern results in more precipitation, but storms should remain weaker after the front passes. Sunday looks drier, making for a better end to the weekend. Here’s the 7-Day Forecast:
